DEPARTURE OF THE IMPERIAL TROOPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11581, 20 February 1901, Page 5

DEPARTURE OF THE IMPERIAL TROOPS.

BRITANNIC SAILED FOR ADELAIDE

AN ENTHUSIASTIC FAREWELL

The Imperial contingent, * after a tour through New Zealand of a. fortnight's duration, sailed, from Auckland yesterday on the troopship Britannic, bound for England, via Adelaide and Colombo. They had a send3ft' at the wharf, which was as hearty and en-

'.husiastic as their reception, and they showed by their ringing cheers as the Britannic sailed down the harbour, that they hid thoroughly appreciated the hospitality ertended to them during their sojourn in New Zealand. All of them, from the colonel to tie trumpet boy, have had a thorough-going gjod time in New Zealand ; Tommy firmly believes it to be the finest spot on earth, and if you ask him to state his preference as to locality, he invariably gives it to Dunedin fur hospitality, and to Rotorua, for novelty. The Railway Wharf presented a busy scene early yesterday morning, the Britannic having been announced to sail about eight o'clock. Various delays occurred, however, and it was found impossible to get the ship away at that early hour. The attractions of colonial life had been too much for some of the Tommies, and at the hour announced for sailing there Mere a, good many absentees. There was also a little delay on account of an officer having to be removed by the ambulance to the Auckland District Hospital, under the charge of the chief medical officer of the Britannic.

The Premier. Mr. Ward, the Mayor (Mr. D. Golclie), Colonel Pole-Penton, and other visitors, were early on the wharf to bid farewell to the officers and men, but the departure had to be deferred till noon, and when eventually the ship cast off from the wharf at a few minutes after twelve, there was a large crowd on the wharf, notwithstanding the fact that the police were guarding the gate and refusing admission to a large number who had come to see the la-st of the Tommies. Among those on the wharf were, the Premier, the Hon. J. G. Ward, Lieu-tenant-Colonel White, Major Morrow, Mr. J. H. Witheford, M.H.R., the Mayor (Mr. D. Goldie), and a number of city councillors and representatives of the Citizens' Committee, who arranged for the entertainment to the troops. As the ship moved off Colonel Wyndham cordially .shook binds with the Premier and Mr. Ward, shouting to Mr. Seddon as the Britannic slipped beyond reach, " Good-bye. Many thanks for all your kindness. We won't forget it in a hurry." "Many thanks to you too, Mr. Ward," he added, "you have made our tour a very pleasant one." Mr. Seddon returned the compliment by organising three lusty cheers for the troops, and three ringing cheers for the Premier came from the ship in response to Colonel Wyndham's call, followed by hearty cheering for Mr. Ward. The troops had lined the side of the vessel, and the rigging, and they gave cheer after cheer for the Premier, " Old Dick," as one of them familiarly termed him. "We shall always think well of you," shouted Mr. Seddon, " and we hope to see some of you later on."

Once the Britannic was clear of the wharf the band of the Highland Light Infantry appeared on deck and struck .up " Auld Lang Syne," followed by "Rule Britannia." "Far Away," and "God Save the King." The vessel had some difficulty in getting into the stream owing to the shallow water, and the cheering from the ship and the wharf continued fur some time. The Britannic rounded the North Head about half-past one, when Aucklauders had their last, glimpse.

THANKS FROM COLONEL WYNDHAM. Shortly before the troopship sailed Lieu-tenant-Colonel G. Crole-Wyndham sent the following letter to the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon : —•

1 "The Hon. the Premier of New Zealand, . S.S. Britannic, February .19, 1901. Dear Mr. Seddon, —I cannot leave New Zealand I without writing to express our heartfelt ' thanks for the manner in which the Imperial [ Representative Corps has been everywhere '■ received by the people of this colony. Their warm 'welcome, enthusiastic greeting, and magnificent hospitality have touched us most deeply, and we carry away in our hearts flic very kindest memories of New Zealand. May I ask you to kindly convey to the Mayors of those cities and towns through which wo hav(|roassed, our warmest thanks for the splendid reception everywhere given us, and to express our gratitude for the way in which we have been entertained. — remain, etc., (!. CboljK-WyndHAM, LieutenantColonel, Commanding Imperial Representative Corps."

ILLNESS OF AN OFFICER. About nine o'clock yesterday morning, Lieutenant W. D. Warrington-Morris, of the Royal Garrison Artillery, was removed to the Auckland District 'Hospital, suffering from scarlet fever. Lieutenant WarringtonMorris' servant also slaved behind. It is expected that the patient will have to be ill hospital for six or eight weeks. DESERTERS AND ABSENTEES. Yesterday morning the police received intimation of a number of men who had overstayed their leave, and just a few minutes before the ship left, two members of the Highland Light Infantry Band were brought on board by Detectives Maddern and Kennedy. The men, it appeared, had got rid of their uniforms, and were walking about town in plain clothes. While walking past the Kauri Timber Company's mills in the morning, Detective Kennedy's attention was attracted to the men by'the fact that one of them wore a regulation military shirt and regimental boots, 'the men were stopped, and eventually admitted that they were attempting to desert. They were given an opportunity to get their uniforms, which were found in a house, in Wallace-street, l'onflonby, and a man named. Geo. Graham was arrested on a charge of having assisted the men to desert. The two bandsmen were got into their uniforms and driven to the wharf, arriving as stated, just in time to join the Britannic. After the departure of the Britannic Sergeant Forbes and Sergeant Murray arrested two troopers in a hotel, and by night other three were brought, to the police station, making in sill five men remaining in custody. They will be charged with being absent without leave, and will probably be remanded till Colonel Wyndham or the Imperial authorities can lie communicated with by cable. The police state that there are now only three or four men unaccounted for so far as Auckland i,-i concerned. [BY TIOLKGKAI'ir. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Waxganui, Tuesday. At a, meeting of the committee in connection with the recent visit, of the Imperial troops, it was reported that thcro was a surplus from the function of £79 over and abovj expenses (£159). The committee decided to invite the Indian troops to visit the town.